Salvia plant named ‘hummingbird falls’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Salvia  named ‘Hummingbird Falls’ that is distinguishable by pendulous growth habit, small deep green leaves, flowers which are intense deep-purple in color and whose black calyces persist after flowering is finished.

Genus and species: Salvia x guaranitica.

Variety denomination: ‘Hummingbird Falls’.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant, also known as a sage, a perennial that is grown for use as anornamental landscape and container plant. The new variety is knownbotanically as Salvia x guaranitica and will be referred to hereinafterby the cultivar name ‘Hummingbird Falls’.

‘Hummingbird Falls’ was selected in April 2018 from a population ofseedlings which the inventor had raised from seed resulting from thecontrolled pollination of parent plants which the inventor had chosenfor their useful characteristics. Both parents were unnamed andunreleased seedlings of Salvia x guaranitica previously raised by theinventor. The female parent was chosen for its compact growth habit. Themale parent was chosen for its deep blue flowers and its dark greenfoliage. The hybridization was carried out by the inventor at theinventor's nursery in Elk, Calif.

‘Hummingbird Falls’ was selected by the inventor for its exceptionallycompact and pendulous growth habit, small leaves and profuse branchingand flowering—all of which allows for production and sale in hangingbaskets, a novel use for the genus.

‘Hummingbird Falls’ was first asexually propagated in the fall of 2018in a greenhouse at the inventor's nursery in Elk, Calif. using softwoodtip cuttings. The inventor has determined during successive cycles ofasexual propagation that ‘Hummingbird Falls’ is stable and reproducestrue to type.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Hummingbird Falls’. ‘HummingbirdFalls’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Hummingbird Falls’ exhibits a compact plant habit with        profuse branching.    -   2. The stems of ‘Hummingbird Falls’ are thin in comparison with        the species, such that the stems arch as they grow longer and        under the weight of their terminal inflorescences.    -   3. The flowers of ‘Hummingbird Falls’ are vibrant violet-blue in        color.    -   4. ‘Hummingbird Falls’ grows and flowers rapidly. Flowering        plants may be produced in 10 to 12 weeks from a cutting. A        flowering hanging basket may be produced in three months from        planting a 3 month old starter plant.    -   5. The calyces of the flowers of ‘Hummingbird Falls’ range in        color from very dark purple to black. The calyces are black in        conditions of full sunlight.    -   6. The calyces (sepals) of ‘Hummingbird Falls’ persist after        flowering has finished. The once-flowering inflorescences        continue to display attractive and contrasting black calyces.    -   7. ‘Hummingbird Falls’ produces new flowering stems continuously        from spring to fall.    -   8. The leaves of ‘Hummingbird Falls’ are small and dark green in        color at all stages of growth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Salvia cultivar ‘Hummingbird Falls’ showing the colors as trueas it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. The photographs were taken in late May 2021 from a plant which wassix months old and which had been grown for three months as a hangingbasket out of doors in Santa Barbara, Calif. The plants had received onepinch after initial establishment. Colors in the photographs may differfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichmore accurately describes the actual colors of the new variety‘Hummingbird Falls’.

FIG. 1 depicts an entire plant of ‘Hummingbird Falls’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘HummingbirdFalls’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Hummingbird Falls’. Observations, measurements,values, and comparisons were collected in June 2021 in Santa Barbara,Calif. from a six months old plant grown outdoors in full sun in a 2.5gallon hanging basket container. Color determinations have been made inaccordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart fromLondon England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.        -   Genus.—Salvia.        -   Species.—X guaranitica.        -   Common name.—Sage.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Salvia x guaranitica (proprietary unnamed and            unreleased seedling).        -   Male parent.—Salvia x guaranitica (proprietary unnamed and            unreleased seedling).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Softwood tip cuttings.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.        -   Time to develop roots.—5 days are needed for a cutting to            develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20° to            22° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 3 months are required to produce a            budded and flowering plant in a quart container from a            rooted cutting, and a further three months to produce a            fully-flowering hanging basket from planting a quart            container into a hanging basket container.        -   Suggested container size.—1 gallon container or larger for            hanging basket production.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a container plant and as a plant            for hanging baskets        -   Type.—Perennial.        -   Overall dimensions (including inflorescences).—After one            year's growth in a 2.5 gallon container: 30 cm in height,            and 50-60 cm in spread.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water            and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 7.        -   Form.—Bush.        -   Growth habit.—Compact structure with stems which become            pendulous with age and when flowering.        -   Blooming season.—From one month after breaking spring            dormancy to first frost.        -   Lastingness of blooms.—Inflorescence has some flower for 14            days, individual flowers last for 2 to 3 days.-   Stem:    -   -   Length.—25 cm to the base of the terminal inflorescence.        -   Width.—2 mm to 4 mm.        -   Color.—Olive green 144A towards base, becoming very dark            purple N186B towards apex.        -   Shape.—Square, edges rounded.        -   Texture.—Suffruticose.-   Branches:    -   -   Quantity.—Numerous, 50-60 branches.        -   Length (to base of raceme).—18 cm to 25 cm.        -   Width.—2 mm-4 mm.        -   Internode length.—4.0 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Color.—Olive green 144A towards base, becoming very dark            purple N186B towards apex.        -   Shape.—Square, edges rounded.        -   Texture.—Suffruticose.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type, arrangement.—Simple, opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity per branch.—6 to 8 pairs.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Length.—Largest leaves 7 cm., leaves typically 5.5 cm-6.0            cm.        -   Width.—Largest leaves 5.5 cm., leaves typically 3.5 cm-4.0            cm.        -   Margin.—Dentate, teeth 3 mm to 4 mm apart, 1.5 mm to 2 mm in            depth.        -   Thickness.—Moderately coarse and stiff.        -   Venation.—Pinnate. Veins (adaxial surface): Depressed, color            as leaf except midrib on fully expanded leaves: midrib color            ranges between 138B and N186B. Veins (abaxial surface):            Prominently raised, color 138B.        -   Texture (adaxial surfaces).—Smooth, glossy.        -   Texture (abaxial surface).—Matte, lightly puberulent.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface: Ranges between 141B and 143B.            Abaxial surface: 138B.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Hastate.        -   Fragrance.—Pleasant sage fragrance when rubbed.        -   Stipules.—Present in pairs at each leaf axil. Small,            petiolate (petioles 4 mm in length, 1 mm in width), shape            lanceolate, 4 mm in length, 3 mm in width. All other            characteristics as leaves except color lighter, 144B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Shape.—Terete, adaxial channel.        -   Length.—4.5 cm-7.5 cm (oldest leaves).        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—144A except surfaces exposed to direct sun become            N186B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length (to lowest flower whorl).—4 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Square.        -   Width.—2 mm to 4 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—147A as inflorescence first forms, becoming N186B            when inflorescence fully developed.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal raceme.        -   Length.—6.5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 cm.        -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers are arranged in whorls.        -   Quantity of flowers.—A range of 4 to 6 flowers per whorl and            up to 7 whorls per raceme.        -   Distance between whorls.—1.5 cm-2.0 cm between lowest two            whorls, decreasing to 5 mm between uppermost whorls.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round in Southern California and            spring to summer elsewhere.        -   Lastingness of the flowers (on the plant).—From 8 days in            spring to 3 days in summer.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—3 mm-4 mm.        -   Width.—0.75 mm-1.0 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—203A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Campanulate, flared toward the apex.        -   Length.—16 mm to 18 mm.        -   Width.—5 mm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—2, one upper, one lower, substantially            longitudinally fused.        -   Length.—12 mm to 18 mm. of which 3 mm to 4 mm free.        -   Width.—7 mm when flattened.        -   Shape.—Boat shaped.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Adaxial surface: Puberulent, longitudinally ribbed.            Ribs 1 mm apart, raised less than 0.1 mm. Abaxial surface:            Glabrous, longitudinal depressions.        -   Color.—203A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Quantity.—From 4 to 6 flowers per whorl and up to 7 whorls            per flowering stem.        -   Shape.—Tubular, two-lipped.        -   Length (including corolla tube).—4.0 cm.        -   Width.—6 mm.        -   Height (across extremities of upper and lower lip).—1.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Faint sage fragrance.-   Bud (as emerges from calyx):    -   -   Shape.—Ellipsoidal.        -   Length.—4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm to 4 mm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent, especially apex which already bears            cluster of hairs on future upper petal lip.        -   Color.—86A.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color (both surfaces).—NN155D.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Arrangement.—One upper petal appearing as a hood, and one            lower petal which appears as a large prominent lip.        -   Upper petal.—Aspect: Horizontal to slightly elevated. Shape:            Hood. Length: 4.0 cm (including corolla tube). Width: 6 mm.            Texture: Adaxial surface: Corolla tube glabrous, hood            puberulent, hairs 0.5 mm. in length, color 86A. Abaxial            surface: Glabrous, with two longitudinal ribs. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Truncate with lower lip at corolla mouth.            Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (adaxial surface) 86A,            (abaxial surface): 86C.        -   Lower petal, lip.—Aspect: Downward, between 30° and 45°            below horizontal. Shape: Rhomboid, concave. Length: 12 mm            (free of upper petal). Width: 6 mm to 7 mm. Texture (both            surfaces): Smooth, glabrous. Apex: Emarginate, depth of            notch 0.5 mm. Base: Truncate. Margin: Gently undulating.            Color (both surfaces): 86A-86C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 2, connected to corolla tube wall, fused            at base. Filament: Length: 3 cm of which 8 mm exserted from            flower (upper lip) apex. Color: NN155D, except 86C where            exserted. Anther: Shape: Narrowly elliptical, dorsifixed            off-center. Length: 4 mm. Width: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Color:            86C. Pollen: Amount: None present.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Forked. Length: 1.5            mm-2.0 mm, gently recurved. Width: less than 0.5 mm. Color:            86C. Style: Length: 6 mm. Color: 85D.        -   Ovary (only observed unfertilized).—Length: 2.5 mm. Width:            1.5 mm. Color: 1B.        -   Seed.—None present.-   Disease and pest susceptibility: Susceptible to sucking insects when    stressed. Generally outgrows most bacterial and viral infections.    Resistant to deer and rabbit grazing.-   Drought tolerance: Drought tolerant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Hummingbird Falls’ is distinguishable from each of its parents and fromall other varieties of Salvia x guaranitica known to the inventor by itspendulous habit and small leaves. by the color and texture of itsfoliage which is deeper green and thicker than either parent and by thelarger size and quantity and the deeper and more intense color of itsflowers.

The variety of Salvia x guaranitica which the inventor considers to bemost similar to ‘Hummingbird Falls’ is the inventor's variety of Salviaplant named ‘Rhythm & Blues’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,585). Whereas‘Rhythm and Blues’ exhibits similar violet-blue flower colors and darkgreen foliage, the growth habit is strongly upright, with leaves whichare approximately 50% larger and whose calyces fall away afterflowering. In comparison with ‘Rhythm & Blues’, ‘Hummingbird Falls’exhibits a pendulous plant habit, with smaller foliage and whichcontinues to hold its black calyces after flowering is finished.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘Hummingbird Falls’ as described and illustrated herein.